Grain dusting apparatus



R. F. BERKNER GRAIN DUSTING APPARATUS Aug. 5, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 2O 1950 Aug 5, 1952 R.l F. BERKNER 2,606,096

GRAIN DUSTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented ug. 5, A1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 1.31

2,606,096 GRAIN nUsfrING APPARATUS RobertF. Berkner, Mahnomen, Application September 20, 1950, Serial No; 185,790

My invention'relates to devices for the dusting of grain with germioidal powder for the purpose of rendering the individual kernels or grains resistant to disease, molds, and the like. A

It is common practice to apply a ne dusting or coating of germicidal powder tov grain for the above purpose through the medium of machinery, which either tumbles the grain ina powder by passing the grain through a stream of germicidal dust or a stream of powder-laden air. This process and the machinery involved is obviously rather expensive and objectionable from this point of view. v

' The primary object of my invention is the ,provision of a simple device for the dusting of grain with a germicidal powder while the grain remains in a vstatic condition in sacks, bins, or thev likeusually sacks. y

A stm further object of 'my invention isi-the provision of a device of the class described, which is relatively inexpensive to produce, which is light in weight, rigid-in construction, and durable in use. l

A still further object of'my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, which is highly efficient and extremely easy to operate and control.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a View. in side elevation ofV my novel structure showing its use in abag of grain, portions of said bag being .broken away and shown in section; Y

F'ig.v 2 is a View in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

vFig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of' the upper portion of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a vewcorresponding to a portion of Fig. vl but showing a diierent position of some ofrthe parts thereof.

VEteferring withv greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 4I indicates, in its entirety, a container for germicidal powder havinga hopper-like bottom2 and closed `at -its upper end bya removable cover 3. Preferably and as show-n, the cover is securely held in place by thumb nutequipped bolts 4 which are pivotally secured as at 5to bracket members 6 projecting laterally outwardly from the container I on opposite-side rolaimsf (crei- 10erthe stem I5.

portions thereof inv spaced relation tothe cover'- 3.

As shown-particularly with reference to Fig. 4, it

will be noted-that the boltsH 4 Vare movable" intoV and out of outwardly-openingslots 'I in ears 8,

which project laterally outwardly from the cover 3 in opposite directions. To facilitate removal of the cover 3 from the container I when the boltsl are swung downwardly out of engagement with the slots 1, I provide an upstanding bail-like handle 9.

lAt its lower end portion, the container is provided with a laterally-projecting tubular outlet passage I0 which forms an extension of thehopper 2 and which terminates in a portil.-'llfie y tubular outlet i!) denes a marginal valve seat I2 around the discharge port Il, Wall-'structure i3 defines a mixing chamber Ill outwardly ci andvr surrounding the tubular discharge outletl I and the port II. Afvalve stem inA axial alignment with the outletV passage ID is mounted for rotary and rlimited sliding movements inlateral1y' spaced bearings I6 land Il, the former of which is secured directly to the wallv structure rI3 and the latter oflwhich is secured indirectlythereto by means of metal strips I8, `one on eachside'of As shown, the inner end ofthe stem I5 projects inwardly. of the wall structure I3 and axially into the tubular outletpassage Ill and is there'provided with a vvalve I9 preferablyV formed from rubber-like material. Preferably and as showrnthe valve I9 is providedgwith rigidl face plates `20 and 2|, all three being held inv clesired relationship by means of a nut 22 having screw-threaded engagement with thel inner end of the stem I5. Y.

, For the purpose of imparting rotary movements to the stem I5, I provide ahandle 23 which is journalled` thereto and is provided with a pawl 24 which is biased toward engagement with teeth 25 fast on the -stem. I5. Longitudinal movements of the handle 23 with respect to the stem I5are prevented by spaced bearing iianges 2&5,v oneon each side of the ratchet teeth 25. A coil-.compression spring 42'I onthe stem I5 intermediate thebearing I1 and the handle 23 yieldingly biases the valve I9 toward engagement with the seat I'2. .It will be'noted that the radially outer portion ofthe bearing I'I is :provided with cam teeth 28 which are adapted to intermesh with cooperating teeth 29 on a head 30 fasty on the extreme outer end of the stem I5. It will be noted that the rotary movement of the handle 23and stem I5 is limited .by contact.

teeth 25 fast on the stem I5 and the handle 23 is then rotated within the limits above-described, limited rotary as well as longitudinal sliding movement is imparted to the stem I5, whereby to temporarily unseat the valve I9 from its seat I2 and allow a pre-determined amount of germicidal powder to drop into the mixing chamber through the port II.

An agitator 3|, of serpentine formation andl shown as Abeing'lin'the nature of a convoluted length of `wire,is secured at one end to the nut 22 and projects generally axially of the stem I5 into the hopper-like bottom 2 of the container I. The compound rotary and longitudinal movements of the agitator 3| adequately agitate the germicidal powder Y and prevent caking of the same. The serpentine agitator illustrated is particularly desirable because of its low cost and simple construction and the fact that it functions as a result of longitudinal reciprocating movements or rotary movements or both. However, it Awill be` understood that other' agitator designs which operate as a result of longitudinal reciprocating movements or rotary movements or'both may be employed.

Means for delivering air under pressure to the mixing chamber I4 is provided by a tubular conduit 32 which vis welded or otherwise rigidly secured between a pair of laterally-spaced reinforcing ilanges 34. The inner end of the conduit 32 'extends through an aperture 35 in the wall of thefmixing chamberrlland terminates in a downturnedend 36, which is directed toward and is in alignment with an elongated tubular nozzle 31 having perforations 38 at its lower end. At its louter lend, theA conduit 32 is provided with a valve 39 having a handle 40, at its under side, which is adapted to engage a plunger 4I and unseat vthe same" under upward movements of the handle 4U; vTo facilitate operation of` the valve38, jI-providea generally inverted U-shaped reactance memberf'42 which projects laterally outwardly from the side of the container I. .Fig. 1 illustrates the position which -my novel structure takes in .the dusting of grain Aina sack 1X. v. In order that the grains Ain the lower portion of the'sack X bersubjected to a thorough dusting, thehandlez23 is oscillated about the axis of the valve lstem I5, .whereby to intermittently impart limited rotary and longitudinal movements to the valve I9 as the pawl 24 associated with-"the handler23 engages the ratchet teeth 25 on thestem I5. Suchoscillation causes the cam teeth 29 to ride up on the cam teeth 28v against the bias of the coil spring 21,-as shown in Fig.A 5. In this position, the valve is open and the germicidal powder Y is being dropped into the mixingv chamber M-through the -port' I I. vWhen the cam teeth 28 andv 29 are snapped into the nestingpo'sition ofrFig. v4,-thevalve I9 is yforced against the annular seat I2,.as there shown.4 `At substantially the same time asl th'e germicidal powder Y is being vdeposited-I into `Vthe mixing chamber u,- by manipulation of 'thexnanrnef 2a, the air valve'39' is opened byapplying the hand between the handle 40 and reactance hood v42. When this happens, the germicidal "p'owder-Y comes out of th'e-perforations'i38iof thet'ubular nozzle 3l with suiiicient force to.sassure thata large area of grainA isldusted.' iDustingoffthe grain in the upper portiorr of the aclrA Xumay be accomplished merely .by Vp'ositioningljof `the perforate end of;'th'e nozzle 3'I-in-;;the, general area. My invention hasl been thoroughly-tested'and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and, while I have shown a preferred embodiment of my novel structure, it will be seen that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as deiined in the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a hopper defining a discharge port, in its lower end portion and a marginal valve seataround said port. wall structure outwardly of said port defining a mixing chamber, a valve stem mounted in said wallstructure for longitudinal sliding movements,

a valve on the inner end of said stem movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat upon longitudinal sliding movements of said stem, yielding means biasing said valve toward engagement with said valve seat, means for delivering air under pressure into said mixing chamber, an elongated tubular injection nozzle projecting downwardly from the mixing chamber, means for imparting limited longitudinal movements to said valve Vstem to unseat said valve, and agitator means associated with said valve and extending into said hopper for common movements with said valve, said agitator being of a kind which will agitate material in the hopper as a result of either longitudinal reciprocating movements or rotary movements'or both. Y i

2. In adevice of the'class described, a hopper deiining a laterally-opening discharge portin its lower end portion and a marginal valve seat around said port, wall structure outwardly-of said port defining av mixing chamber, Va. rvalve stem mounted in said vwall structure in axial alignment with said port for rotary and limited longitudinal sliding movements, avalveon the inner end of said movable into and out o f engagement Vwith said valve portupon longitudinal sliding movements of said stem, said mixing chamber being provided with a hopperlike bottom which feeds into a tubularnozzle depending therefrom, means deliveringair. under pressure into said mixing chamber, saidymeans terminating in a tubular outlet directed'tow'ard and in axial alignmentiwith said tubular nozzle, means yieldingly biasing said valve to'ward said valve seat, means Ifor imparting' ,longitudinal movements to said valve stem whereby. to unseat thesame against bias of said yielding means,"and an elongated serpentine agitator operatively associated with said valve and extending into'ad restingupon the lower end portion of said hopper and movable with said valve. f f

3. In a grain dusting device, a hopper defining a. discharge port in its lower portion andamarginal valve seat aroundssaid port, wall vstructure outwardly of said port dening a mixing chamber, a valve stem mounted in saidwall structure for rotary and longitudinal reciprocating movements, a valve mounted on said valvestexn for reciprocating `movements ytherewith tof and'from port-closing position against saidvmarginal valve seat, an agitator mounted fast on the 'valve stem for common rotary and .reciprocating movements therewith andl projecting in'to'said hopper, means for delivering airunder pressureinto the mixing chamber, an rinjection nozzle projecting-downwardly from themixingchamber, `and means for imparting compound ,rotaryv and longitudinal reciprocating movements to the valve stem' to intermittently `move the -valve vtov and 4from `the port-closing position and operate saidfagitator,

5 6 said agitator being of a kind which will agitate UNITED STATES PATENTS material in the hopper as a result'I of either Number Name Date longitudinal reciprocating movements or rotary 841 092 Mueller Jan 8 1907 movements or both.

4. The structure denned 1n claim 3 in which s lgner et al if the said agitator is of serpentine formation and 1'928'903 Manning cgt 3 1933 closely overlies the lower portion of the hopper. 2163628 Pkey 'Enne '27 1939 ROBERT F' BERKNEB' 2,376,304 Anderson May 15, 1945 REFERENCES CITED 1o 2,461,649 Manning Feb. 15, 1947 A 2,510,393 Frazer June 6, 1950 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A HOPPER DEFINING A DISCHARGE PORT IN ITS LOWER END PORTION AND A MARGINAL VALVE SEAT AROUND SAID PORT, WALL STRUCTURE OUTWARDLY OF SAID PORT DEFINING A MIXING CHAMBER, A VALVE STEM MOUNTED IN SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR LONTITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENTS, A VALVE ON THE INNER END OF SAID STEM MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT UPON LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENTS OF SAID STEM, YIELDING MEANS BIASING SAID VALVE TOWARED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE SEAT, MEANS FOR DELIVERING AIR UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID MIXING CHAMBER, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR INJECTION NOZZLE PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE MIXING CHAMBER, MEANS FOR IMPARTING LIMITED LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENTS TO SAID VALVE STEM TO UNSEAT SAID VALVE, AND AGITATOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID VALVE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID HOPPER FOR COMMON MOVEMENTS WITH SAID VALVE, SAID AGITATOR BEING OF A KIND WHICH WILL AGITATE MATERIAL IN THE HOPPER AS A RESULT OF EITHER LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS OR ROTARY MOVEMENTS OR BOTH. 